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PEORIA, Ariz. – John Lackey finally had enough small talk about Tim Buss – the strength and conditioning coordinator who wore a Lucha Libre mask and a Speedo while the Cubs stretched before Monday's workout in Mesa – and wanted to knock out the obligatory media session.

"I've got places to go that are way better than Peoria," Lackey told reporters inside the visiting clubhouse during a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres. "No offense. With all due respect."

Lackey doesn't need Will Ferrell's Ricky Bobby "Talladega Nights" qualifier, because he pretty much says whatever he wants. At the age of 38 – with nearly 3,000 innings on his big-league resume and a third World Series ring on the way – Lackey doesn't pretend to be somebody else for the cameras.

As for that "hybrid" role manager Joe Maddon has outlined for fifth/sixth starters Brett Anderson and Mike Montgomery, well, you can guess Lackey's take.

"We like our routines," said Lackey, who went three innings and gave up one run at Peoria Stadium. "We like to know what we're going to do every five days. We'll see how it works out. It could be good. But it could disrupt some things, too."

Not that Lackey would bring those concerns to Maddon: "I just work here, man, you know what I mean?"

Maddon – the Anaheim Angels bench coach when Lackey beat Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants in Game 7 of the 2002 World Series – knows the act and already anticipated the reactions from a veteran rotation as the Cubs try to recover from pitching into early November and ramp up for another deep playoff run.

"Even though you know you're going to get resistance," Maddon said, "if we're able to pull that off…it might add something to these guys."

The Angels drafted Lackey during the Clinton administration. Addison Russell was eight years old when Lackey made his big-league debut. Lackey underwent Tommy John surgery during Kris Bryant's sophomore year at the University of San Diego. Lackey has already gotten through 133 starts (including the playoffs) with that reconstructed right elbow.

Lackey – who's in the final season of a two-year, $32 million contract – has vowed to never do a David Ross-style retirement tour.

"More than anything, it's going to be what he's thinking, how he feels," Maddon said. "He's got a young family and he's definitely got plenty of money in the bank. So what does he want to do?

"I would think that he's going to evaluate his performance – and how he feels by the end of this season – and make that determination. He loves the game. The guy is absolutely a junkie. There's no question about it.

"We'll just wait and see. It will be up to him, obviously, but Johnny is that kind of guy (who will) just say, ‘That's it,' and literally ride off into the sunset."

This technically marked Lackey's first Cactus League start this spring after facing Team Italy in last week's World Baseball Classic tune-up.

"Italy didn't count?" Lackey said. "So I shouldn't have had to talk to you guys (then). You guys hosed me on that one."

The snarling Lackey will be back in April, but for now he's enjoying getting ready for his 15th season in The Show. Either way, Lackey isn't making big plans to soak it all in, the way Ross visited the Lincoln Memorial, took a carriage ride through Central Park and got in the water with a beluga whale at SeaWorld last season.

"He played a lot less than the rest of us," Lackey said. "He had plenty of time on his hands."

So…that would be a no?

"I'm just going to try to win," Lackey said. "I'm definitely going to maybe bring my son around a little bit more, that kind of stuff. But honestly I haven't even thought about that. When I get to the end of the season, we'll see where we're at and make the decision."

Latest Cubs Talk

A week from Sunday, ESPN will bring baseball fans back to 1998 with the premiere (8 p.m. CT) of "Long Gone Summer," a documentary detailing Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire's 1998 home run race.

Sosa and McGwire duked it out that summer in a battle to break Roger Maris' all-time record for home runs in a single season (61). McGwire ultimately set the record (70) with Sosa (66) not far behind, and the two are credited with reviving fan interest in baseball lost following the 1994 MLB strike.

ESPN released the trailer for the documentary on Friday, featuring snippets of their interviews with McGwire, Sosa and sportscaster Bob Costas. In one clip, Sosa dropped an interesting line about his mindset 22 years ago.

"I was hungry...to be somebody," he said.

"We shocked the world."

The late 1990s and early 2000s in baseball were defined by steroid usage. Sosa has never admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs, and while a single line from a 90-second trailer isn't all that telling, it will be interesting to see if he makes any new revelations about the home run race and his career overall.

Check out the trailer:

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That’s what faces the Cubs in the first round of next week’s MLB Draft.

The Cubs have had an incredible stretch of selecting position players with their first-round picks since Theo Epstein & Co. took over: Albert Almora, Kris Bryant, Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ and Nico Hoerner. But with the farm system failing to produce much in the way of impact pitching at the big league level, they’ve stocked up on pitching recently, with three first-round picks in the last three drafts spent on pitchers: Brendon Little, Alex Lange and Ryan Jensen.

After missing the playoffs for the first time in the last five years, the Cubs have their highest draft pick since taking Happ with the No. 9 selection in 2015. This year, they’ll pick at No. 16.

But this year’s draft is going to look a lot different for plenty of other reasons, with only five rounds as owners look to cut costs. Revenues are expected to dip dramatically with the 2020 season impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and eliminating the millions handed out to draft picks as signing bonuses is one move amid the financial maneuvering. But nonetheless, when the first round is all said and done June 10, the Cubs will walk away with a talented player to add to their bright future.

Who will they take? Baseball teams don’t draft for need like NFL and NBA teams do, so looking at the big league roster and even the minor league system, as a whole, offers little in the way of clues to even what position the Cubs will spend their top pick on.

A power-hitting Pac-12 first baseman, Torkelson is getting compared to White Sox prospect Andrew Vaughn, who was the No. 3 overall pick last summer. Torkelson hit a combined 48 homers during his freshman and sophomore seasons and walked 31 times in just 17 games before his junior season was halted by the coronavirus. The Cubs likely won’t have the opportunity to draft him, though. MLB Pipeline’s Jonathan Mayo has Torkelson going No. 1 overall to the Tigers in his mock draft.

2. Austin Martin, OF/3B, Vanderbilt University

Described by MLB Pipeline as “the best pure hitter in the draft,” Martin has plenty of versatility. He played third base, center field and a few other positions at Vandy. But the bat’s the thing. He posted a .410 batting average and a .503 on-base percentage in 59 games during the 2019 season. Mayo’s got Martin going No. 2 to the Orioles, who took college baseball’s best player, Adley Rutschman, with the No. 1 pick a year ago.

3. Asa Lacy, LHP, Texas A&M University

A hard-throwing lefty, Lacy dominated during his sophomore season, with a 2.13 ERA in 15 starts. He struck out 130 opposing batters in 88.2 innings. And he was on his way toward following that up this year, too, having allowed just two runs in his first four starts of the season. Mayo has Lacy going to the Marlins with the No. 3 pick.

4. Emerson Hancock, RHP, University of Georgia

In his first 10 starts last season, Hancock allowed just eight runs. A lat injury knocked him out for two weeks, but his numbers still looked mighty good at season’s end: a 1.99 ERA with just 20 earned runs allowed in 14 starts. He struck out 97 and walked only 18. Mayo’s projection has Hancock going to the Mariners with the No. 6 pick.

5. Nick Gonzales, SS/2B, New Mexico State University

The MVP of last summer’s wood-bat Cape Cod League, Gonzales can hit. He put up insane numbers as a sophomore, with a .432 batting average, a .532 on-base percentage and a bonkers 1.305 OPS. In the small sample size that was the 16 games he got to play as a junior, he was even more ridiculous, getting on base at a .610 clip and homering 12 times in 16 games to contribute to a mind-scrambling 1.765 OPS. Cubs fans might not want to hold out hope of Gonzales landing on the North Side: Mayo’s got him going to the Royals at No. 4.

6. Garrett Mitchell, OF, University of California-Los Angeles

He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he plays center field. Sounds like the kind of guy a lot of big league clubs would want to mold into a star. Mitchell had 12 triples, 41 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 62 games as a sophomore last year for the Bruins and a .984 OPS that will make anyone pay attention. But he didn’t hit that many homers, and that’s why Mayo has him all the way down at No. 17 in his mock draft.

7. Zac Veen, OF, Spruce Creek High School (Florida)

Rated as the best high school hitter in the draft, Veen is a lefty who MLB Pipeline said has “reminded some of Cody Bellinger offensively.” That sounds good. They say he might not stick in center field, but he’s got enough talent to rank as the lone high schooler in the site’s top 10 list. Mayo’s got him as the fifth player off the board, going to the Blue Jays.

8. Reid Detmers, LHP, University of Louisville

An Illinois native, from Chatham, south of Springfield, MLB Pipeline calls Detmers “the most polished left-hander available.” A strong sophomore season helped the Cardinals reach the College World Series last year. He logged a 2.85 ERA in 17 starts, with 162 strikeouts compared to just 27 walks. Before this season came to a sudden end, he struck out 48 batters in only 22 innings. In his mock draft, Mayo has Detmers heading to the Pirates with the No. 7 pick, perhaps the Illinois native eventually terrorizing his home-state team with a division rival.

9. Max Meyer, RHP, University of Minnesota

The Twins drafted this Land of 10,000 Lakes product back in 2017. But he didn’t sign, and after winning 100 games last season, they likely won’t get a crack at Meyer this time around. He was moved from the bullpen to the rotation in the middle of last season, and in 16 appearances overall, he posted a 2.11 ERA. He was doing more of the same this year, with a 1.95 ERA in four starts. MLB Pipeline says he’s got the best slider in the draft, so he might not slide very far down the board. Mayo’s got him going to the Padres at No. 8.

10. Heston Kjerstad, OF, University of Arkansas

MLB Pipeline says Kjerstad, who reached the College World Series in each of his first two college seasons, is second only to the top-ranked prospect, Torkelson, when it comes to power. He might not be the fastest, but he can mash, with 30 home runs and 108 RBIs in 132 career college games. He was off to the races this season, with a 1.304 OPS in 16 games. If Mayo’s mock hits, Kjerstad could see those college power numbers become big league reality, forecasted to go to the Rockies at No. 9.

The highest ranked high school pitcher in the draft, Abel was the Gatorade Player of the Year in the Beaver State after winning the state title there. Mayo has him going to the Giants at No. 13.

12. Jared Kelley, RHP, Refugio High School (Texas)

The top-ranked high school pitcher when the year started, Kelley is said to be the Lone Star State’s finest high school arm in a decade. The kid can chuck, and MLB Pipeline says he “has the look of a frontline starter who could reach the big leagues before he turns 21.” OK then. Mayo has him falling to the Mets at No. 19.

13. Austin Hendrick, OF, West Allegheny High School (Pennsylvania)

While the Cubs are picking at No. 16, they could get themselves a steal, should the projections and evaluations of the folks at MLB Pipeline play out. Mayo has Hendrick falling to the Cubs in his mock draft. With plenty of left-handed power, Hendrick could one day be a heavy-hitting right fielder in the majors. MLB Pipeline says “there isn't a high school hitter in the country with more upside.” Strikeouts are mentioned as a concern, but that’s usually not too big a problem as long as he keeps hitting balls into the seats — or if Mayo’s mock comes true, onto Sheffield Avenue.

14. Nick Bitsko, RHP, Central Bucks East High School (Pennsylvania)

An early high school graduate, when Bitsko’s drafted next month, it will come a few days before his 18th birthday. It could be a very nice birthday present for the 6-foot-4 17-year-old, who got a rave review from MLB Pipeline for his command. But Mayo doesn’t even have him going in the first round of his mock draft, perhaps a reflection of Bitsko’s commitment to the University of Virginia.

15. Ed Howard, SS, Mount Carmel High School (Illinois)

A Chicago native, Howard was a member of the Jackie Robinson West team that finished runner up in the Little League World Series in 2014. There are plenty of fans who would love to see the hometown team take a local kid at No. 16 in the draft. MLB Pipeline describes him as a “smooth defender” with quick hands and a strong arm who makes “repeated strong contact” to go along with good speed and a high baseball IQ. He’s now the Land of Lincoln’s Gatorade Player of the Year, too.

But will the Cubs grab him if he’s there at No. 16? Mayo has Howard sliding all the way to No. 27 — where the Twins, who employed homestater Joe Mauer for quite some time, could provide a reminder of why not to pass on the kids from your own backyard.

16. Robert Hassell, OF, Independence High School (Tennessee)

As mentioned, any of the above players could certainly fall to the Cubs at No. 16. But while one or more of the top 15 prospects could still be around when they go on the clock, they’re guaranteed at least one of the players ranked in the top 16, a number that gets bigger the further down the list we go. Described as “the best pure hitter in the 2020 prep class,” the left-handed hitting Hassell starred for Team USA last September. He’s also a bit of a two-way star, with MLB Pipeline calling him “a legitimate prospect as a pitcher, as well,” though a much better one as a hitter. He’s committed to reigning College World Series champion Vanderbilt University, but Mayo has him mocked as a top-10 pick, going to the Angels at No. 10.

17. Patrick Bailey, C, North Carolina State University

Bailey is expected to be the first catcher off the board, and his offensive numbers from college are pretty excellent: a career .322/.429/.602 slash line in 84 games with the Wolfpack. His 13 homers as a freshman two years ago set a school record. But Bailey’s strength is his defense, with MLB Pipeline saying “he's more athletic and moves better than most catchers.” Mayo has the White Sox selecting Bailey with the No. 11 pick.

18. Garrett Crochet, LHP, University of Tennessee

Towering at 6-foot-6, Crochet can whip it, with his fastball reaching triple digits last fall. Striking out 81 batters in 65 innings, he pitched the Volunteers to the program’s first-ever win in the NCAA tournament last year but raised some red flags this year, limited with shoulder soreness. Mayo has him going to the Rangers at No. 14.

19. Tyler Soderstrom, C, Turlock High School (California)

The backup catcher on his own high school team, Soderstrom is described as a better hitter than he is a defender. But he’s good enough with the bat — “polished” is the word MLB Pipeline used to describe the left-handed hitter — to rank pretty high among the draft’s best prospects. Mayo has him going to the Phillies at No. 15.

If the name of that high school sounds familiar, it’s becoming a bit of a baseball factory. White Sox ace Lucas Giolito, Cardinals young gun Jack Flaherty and Braves pitcher Max Fried all played on the same team. Crow-Armstrong is set to be the fifth player drafted out of Harvard-Westlake in the last nine years. How high will he go? Strikeouts and power are listed as potential concerns, but he’s fast and MLB Pipeline says he “might be the best defensive outfielder in the class.” Mayo’s got him going to the Diamondbacks at No. 18.

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